The volleyball team failed to make the Mid-American Conference Tournament last season despite beginning the year with a program-best 12-0 start and having MAC Defensive Player of the Year Kelly Svoboda.
The Bulls look to reach postseason play and earn their first-ever non-losing season in conference play this year under new head coach Reed Sunahara and without Svoboda and the rest of a departed six-member senior class.
The Bulls open their season hosting the “UB Invite” Friday Aug. 29 by facing four teams in Alumni Arena throughout the weekend. Sunahara’s expectations for this season are for his team to fight for every game.
“I want us to be competitive,” Sunahara said. “I want us to play hard and be competitive. I think if we can do that good things will happen.”
Despite the loss of six seniors, Buffalo does return junior outside hitter Tahleia Bishop, who was named to the All-MAC First-Team least season – the first UB player to receive such honor– and was named to the preseason All-MAC team this season.
Bishop had a head start in working with Sunahara, as the two both represented Team Jamaica at the World Championship Qualifiers in May. Team Jamaica won a bronze medal.
“Anytime you play in an international competition, it benefits you as a player,” Sunahara said. “Hopefully she gained experience from that. Anytime you play against good players you’re going to gain valuable experience so I think for her that was the benefit.”
Bishop said the tournament helped her adjust to Sunahara’s new style of coaching and his idiosyncrasies.
Sunahara expects Bishop and fellow junior outside hitter Megan Lipski to be the leaders of the team this season. Bishop and Lipski both said their goal is to grow into that leadership position.
“Making that adjustment from an underclassman to an upperclassman, there’s definitely a lot more responsibilities as far as leading goes and making the freshmen and the new comers feel comfortable on the court,” Lipski said. “I just want to be encouraging to them and make sure they feel comfortable that they can step up and contribute to the team.”
Buffalo brings in six freshmen this season and two are competing to take over for Svoboda at the libero position.
Freshmen Niki Bozinoski and Tessa Ooyama, and sophomore Danielle Marotto are all competing for the starting libero spot. Sunahara said he would decide who the starter will be on Friday – the day of the first game.
Sunahara said his team is looking forward to opening their season at Alumni Arena this weekend. He noted there first game would be a “crapshoot” because they do not have any video or scouting report on Lehigh as it also is the Mountain Hawks’ first match.
“We have to play up to our potential.” Sunahara said. “We can’t take any team lightly.”
The Bulls’ first game is Friday against Lehigh at Alumni Arena at 7 p.m. Buffalo will also play against Siena and Canisius Saturday at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, before finishing up the weekend with a 1 p.m. match on Sunday against Ole Miss.
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